1. A small perching bird allied to the Warblers (Motacilla sialis Linn., Sylvia sialis Wilson, Erythaca Wilsonii Swainson), common in the United States, where it appears in early spring, taking its departure in the autumn. Its upper part is sky-blue; breast and throat reddish-chestnut.
1688. J. Clayton, in Phil. Trans., XVII. 996. A Bird they call a Blew-bird, of a curious azure colour, about the bigness of a Chafinch.
a. 1813. A. Wilson (title), The American Blue-Bird.
1846. Longf., Not always May, i. The blue-bird prophesying spring.
1881. J. Hawthorne, Fort. Fool, I. xxxiii. Blue-birds, with a flash of sky on their backs.
2. ? A species of albatross (Diomedea fuliginosa ‘albatross of China,’ Penny Cycl.).
1731. Medley, Kolben’s Cape G. Hope, II. 152. The description … of the Cape Blue-bird.
